The fourteen companies initially involved in the union were;

John Dewhurst & Sons Ltd of Skipton and Airton, Yorkshire. Established in 1789

Ermen & Roby Ltd of Pendlebury and Patricroft, Lancashire. Established in 1837

S Manlove & Sons of Chesterfield and Belper. Established in 1829

W G & J Strutt of Belper and Milford. Established in 1776

Sir Richard Arkwright & Co of Cromford, Matlock Bath and Mellor. Established in 1769

C A Rickards of Bell Busk and Skipton. Established in 1862

Bagley & Wright of Belgrave Mill and Crooklands Bobbin Mill, Oldham. Established in 1867

Edmund Ashworth & Sons Ltd of Egerton Mill, near Bolton. Established in 1800

Crawford Brothers of Barr Mill, Beith, Scotland. Established in 1775

J and E Waters & Co of Hulme, Manchester and Carlisle. Established in 1835

William Waller & Co of Britannia Mills, Manchester. Established in 1830

Marsland, Son & Co of albert Mills, Manchester. Established in 1789

John Thomas Raworth of Crown Cotton Mills, Leicester. Established in 1820

George Wigley & Co of Old Silk Mill, Derby. Established in 1867

The company was established in order to unite the principal English firms and companies engaged in the manufacture of sewing, crochet, knitting, mending and other cottons as well as subsidiary businesses engaged in cotton spinning, doubling, dyeing, bleaching and polishing.

After the amalgamation further companies joined the union, they were;

R F and J Alexander & Co Ltd, Glasgow. Established in 1820 who joined the new organisation in 1898

Lawrence Arden Ltd, Hazel Grove who joined in 1899

Portwood Spinning Co Ltd, Stockport joined the organisation in 1929

The Stanhill Ring Spinning Co (1920) Ltd joined in 1946

In 1968 a change of name was registered and the company became known as English Calico Ltd.